Rotary internal-combustion engine.



I. B. HUMPHREYS.

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.5.1SII5- PatentedJuly 17, 1917.

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I. B..HUMPHREYS. ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

I APPLICATION man m1. 5. ms. 1,233,579. w Patented July 17, 1917 p k 5 SflEETS-SHEET 2.

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APPucAnpn FILED APR. 5. I915. I 1,233,579, Patented July 17, 1917';-

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M PLICATIOI FILED APR. 5. "I5- Patented July 17, 1917.

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willow/o sea I if? x. B. HUMPHREYS.

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

I APPLICATION HLED APR.5.1915.

' Patented July 17, 1917.

Qvi-Wuzawo IRA BOYD HUMPHBEYS, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ROTARY INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE."

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA B. HUMPHREYB,

a citizen of the United States, residing at,

Denver, in the county of Denver and, State Fig. 4: is a view similar to that shown in Fi 3, showing the levers in the position t ey will assume after the fly-wheel has advanced sixty degrees (60) from the position shown in Fig. 3.

is 'a detail section taken onthe line 77, Fig. 6, showing the manner of-packing the piston head. I

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 17, 1917, Application filed April 5, 1915. Serial No. 19,229;

Referring now to the drawings, 1 reprei 5 of Colorado, have invented certain new and sents the engine'cylinder, which as shown, '60

useful Improvements in Rotary Internalls'of an elongated form and sub-divided L Combustion Engines, of which the followby means of a partition 2, forming. what I ing is a specification, reference being bad Wlll hereafter term the cylinder chamber 3. therein to the accompanying drawing. v and the lever chamber 4. .The 'cylinder.

10 My invention relates to improvements in chamber 3, as fully shown in Figs; 1, 2 and 65 i rotary internal combustion engines. 3 is provided with .a water-jacketfi, where- The object of my invention is' to provide 'by the engine is kept cool, as is well underan en 'ne of this character in '"which a sestood by those skilled in the'art. 'The., cylries o pistons are mounted to travel within inder chamber 3 has an open outer face an annular cylinder, the pistons ing sowhich is closed by the head plate 6, which 70 connected as to vary their speed of travel also has a water-jacket 7, andwhich is proand with reference to each other, thereby vided with openings 8 commhnicating with enlarging and contracting thespace between the water-jacket 5, whereby the proper .cir-

them for compressing the charge and firing 'culation of the water through the head plate the same, and whereby the varying speed of is attained. Communicating with the up- 75 the pistons is utilized'for pr ucing power. per end of the Water-jacket I) is a water-- 1 Another object of my invention is to prodischarge 9, and at the lower end with aduce an. engine of this character with the water-supply 10. y 1; highest degree of speed and eiiiciency by do- .Theouter face of the lever chamber 4 is ing away with valves and other recip'roprovided with a head-platen, preferably 80 eating parts. To that end it consists in secured to the-chamber i by means of the connecting a series of pistons to a fly-Wheel Screwbolts 12, whereby access may be read by means of connecting links eccentrically ily had to the lever chamber, as fully-shown, controlled in respect to the fly-Wheel. in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings." Carried .by. the Another object of my invention is to prohead-plate 11 is a. stub-pin 1,3, iarranged isl'a vide a simple and effective engine of this eccentric to. the cylinder ,and also to the," character having certain details of structure en i h ft, h i ft more f lly 1 and combinationof parts hereinafter more scribed. Thestub pin 13'carries at its in? fully described. ner end a bearing 14,. for the inncr end of In the accompanying drawings the engine or power shaft 15. The said OO Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view power shaft, as shown,.extends through the taken through the engine cylinder showing cylinder chamber and protrudes into, the the arrangement of the traveling pistons. lever chamber Carried by the power or Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional engine shaft 15, some distance fromthe pa'rview taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. tition 2, a fly-wheel 16,.through which Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken the power is conveyed to the power or enon the lines 3-4 of Fig. 2 and looking in gine shaft'l-fi, which will be later described; 11 the direction of the arrow and showing the As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawarrangement of h levers Connecting the ingsfithe cylinder chamber 3 "andfthe. head- 45ppistons with the fly-wheel. plate formanhnnulai' passage 17, which' is rectangular in cross-section'and extends 19, 20, 21,22 and 23, and when in th posi entirely around the cylinder-2" Within the annular passage. 17 are the-piston, heads '18,

p tion shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, form Fig. 5 is a side view of one pair of p1sthe compartments A, B, (1D, and" F, tons with the connecting disk and tube lookwhich ;will' be later. more fully described. ingvin the direction of the arrow, Fig. 'Rotatably mounted within the cylinder are ig. 6 is an 'end view looking in the di -disks 27, 28 and29, and carriedby the outer 55 raction ofthe arrow Fig. 5. edge of the diskare the pistonheads-18-,.-19, 1 10 20, 21, 22 and 23. These pistons, as shown, are mounted in pairs, the disk 27 carry ng the pistons-18 and 21, the disk 28 carrying 22 and the disk 29 car- 20 and 23. By this arthe pistons 19 and rying thepistons rangement it will be seen that each diskisf" provided with two pistons arranged on directly opposite sides. The disk 27 is provided with a sleeve 30, which extends outwardly into the lever-chamber 4. The disk '28 likewise has a sleeve 31 extending out into the lever chamber 4, its protruding portion, however, being shorter than that of the sleeve 30. The disk 29 is provided with a sleeve 32 which extends into the lever-chamber 4 and ends a slight distance nearer the partition 2 than does the sleeve 31. By this arrangement it will be seen that the sleeves within the lever chamber are stepped for aipurpose later described.

Carried by tli outer ends of thesleeves 30, 31 and 32 are collars 33, 34 and 35.

These collars are provided with the arms, 36, 37 and 38 extending radially and to arms 48, 49 and 50, which have their free ends pivotally connected to the outer free ends of the arms 39, 40 and 41, as fully shown in Figs. 4 of the drawings. The outer ends of the rock-shafts 42-, 43' and 44 have rigidly secured thereto the arms 51,

. 53', 54 and 55, which have their inner ends 52 and 53, which extend'dow-nwardly and having pivotally connected thereto the links pivotally mounted on the stub-pin 13, carried by the head 11 of the lever chamber.

The engine cylinder has arranged at one side a spark plug 56, and at the opposite side is provided with a charge admitting passage 57, having three openings 58 59 and 60, communicating with the annular passage 17, whereby the proper mixture is Below the pas? admitted to the cylinder.

' sage 57 are two exhaust passages 61 and 62, having openings63 and 64 communieating with the annular chamber'or passage 17, whereby the engine is exhausted, all of which will be later described. I,

In operation it being assumed that the mechanism is in the position shown in Figs.

l and 3., it. will be seen that the spark-plug 56 is/arranged so that it communicates with flasthachamberA, between the pistons 18and 23, and in which chamber the charge'has been compressed. When the pistons arepn this position, the chamber C is being supplied with an explosive charge through the passages 58 and 59. The chamber B, be- .tweenthe pistons 18 and 19, has previosly received its charge and the charge therein is being compressed by-the piston 19 moving faster than the piston 18. The chamber F has just been fired and the charge therein is expanding and working onthe piston 22 and through its link connection with the flywheel it is exerting a pulling action thereon. The piston 22 is traveling faster than the.

piston 23 and owing to. the. specific arrangement and position of the link connection upon the fly-wheel by the explosion tending ,with the piston 23 there is a forward pull to retard its forward movement. The chainber E .is exhausting through the openings 63 and 64, while the chamber D is arrivin at a ,position to receive a charge of the exp osive mixture. The pistons all travel .to' the left in the direction of the arrows Figs. 1 and 2, exerting their force of travel through the -mechanism heretofore described to the fly-wheel16 and when the fly-wheel has traveled one-sixth of a revolution, the

several levers willhave assumed the Dosition shown in Fig. 4, and each of their connectingpistons will have advanced to the position of its preceding one, viz., the piston 18 will have reached the position of the piston 23; 19 the position of 18; 20 the position of 19 213theposition of 20; 22 the position of, 21 and 23 the position of 22, whereby an explosion will take place between the positions 18 and 19 and the same operation takes place.

It will be seen that the pistons in their travel in the annular cylinder by virtue of their varied speed produce an intake cham ber C, a compression chamber B, a, com-- pressed mixture and explosion chamber A,

an expansion chamber F and an exhaust chamber E, the chamber D being at atmosphere and of small area. It will be readily seen that in this arrangement large intake. and exhaust ports may be provided, an im i portant feature where high speed efficiencyv is desired.

The pistons 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 27 are provided on all four sides with spring pressed packing 65 held outwardly by springs 66; whereby a tight joint between the piston and cylinder is formed. Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i "1. A rotary I internal combustion engine, comprising a cylinder, a. plurality of pistons therein arranged in pairs, a fly-wheel, means connecting the pistons and fly-wheel whereby arotary movement is given the fly-wheel,

and means arranged eccentric to the fly-whel 1 ,ass,57e

and connected Withthe pistons whereby they move faster throughout a portion of their cycle than they do the remainder of their cycle.

2. A rotary internal combustion engine, comprising a plurality of pistons, a flywheel and means connected to the pistons whereby the transmit rotary movement to the fly-W eel, and se arate means arranged eccentric to the y-wheel whereby the pistons move faster throughout a portion of their cycle than they do the remainder of their-cycle. I

3. A rotary internal combustion engine, comprising a plurality of pistons-,a shaft, a fly-wheel thereon, and means mounted on the said shaft and connecting the pistons and fly-wheel whereby they transmit rotary movement to the fly-wheel, and means arranged eccentric to the. shaft and connected to the fly-wheel at the point where thepistons are connected thereto whereby the said pistons move faster throughout a portion of their cycle thanthey do the remainder of their cycle.-

4. A rotary internal combustion engine,

. comprising a cylinder, siX pistons therein,

a rotary shaft, a fly-wheel carried by the shaft,.means. connecting the pistons and the fly wheel whereby they transmit a rotary motion to the said shaft, and means arranged eccentric ;to the fly-wheel wherebythe pistons move faster throughout a portion of their cycle than they do the re maindei of their cycle. p

' 5. A rotary internal combustion engine comprisin a cylinder, six. pistons therein, a rotary aft, 9. fiy-wheel, the said pistons .connected in pairs and mounted on the said shaft, meansconnecting thepistons and the fiyswheel whereby they "transmit rotarymotion'to the shaft, and means arranged eccentric .to the fly-wheel wherebythe .pistons move faster throughout a portion of their cycle than they do the remainder of their cycle.

6.- A, rotar internal combustibnqen ine I D I comprising a cylinder, a plurality of pistons therein, a shaft, a flywheel mounted thereon, radial and circumferential movable,

- means coimecting the. pistons and the jflyso, on, means connectingthe'pistons and one wheel wherebyfrotary motion is transmitted to the shaft, .1 and means arranged eccentric to the fly-wheel and connected thereto, whereby the said pistons "move faster through .a portion of their cycle than they. do the remainder 'of their joy/ole.

,7. A rotary internaYcombnstion' engine, comprising a cylinder, a plurality of pistons therein, a shaft, a fly-Wheel'moun'ted theresideof the fly-wheel whereby rotary motion is transmitted to the shaft, and means ar- 7 ranged eccentricto the fly-wheeLand conthe said pistons move faster through a por tion of their cycle than they do the remainder of their cycle.

8. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder,a plurality of pistons therein, a shaft, a fly-wheel mounted there'- on, a stub-shaft arranged eccentric to the said shaft, a bearing for the said shaft carried by one end of the stub-shaft, means connecting the pistons and the fly-whee'l for transmitting rotary motion to the shaft, and

means carried by the stub-shaft and con-v nected to the flywheel, whereby thesaid pistons move faster through a portion of their cycle than they do through the 'remainder of their'cycle. v 9. A rotary internal combustion engine, comprising a cylinder, a plurality of pistons therein, a shaft, a fly-wheel mounted thereon, movable means connecting the pistons and the fly-Wheel for transmitting rotary motion to the said shaft, a separate means eccentric to the fiywheel and connected thereto,- wherebv the said pistons move faster through a portion of their cycle than they do through the remainder of'their cycle. a

10. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, a plurality of pistons therein, a shaft, a fly-wheel mounted thereon, connections between the pistons and fly-Wheel and rotatable with them, and con- .nections between the fly-wheel and a' point througha portion of their cycle than theydo through the remainder of their cycle.

12. A rotary internal combustion engine,

comprising a plurality of pistons, a shaft,

'a fly-wheel mounted thereon, connections between the fly-wheel and the pistons whereby they transmit rotary motion to the said fly-wheel, andconnections having one end connected at a point eccentric to the shaft and the other end connected .to the pistons i where they areconnected to the fly-wheel'.

, 13. A rotary internal combustion engine,

comprising a cylinder, a plurality of rotary pistons therein, a'rotary shaft, a fly-wheel mounted thereon, rock shafts carried by the outer periphery of the fly-wheel, the said i pistons connected to the fly-wheel to trans nected to the other sidethereof, "wli'eneby mit rotary motion thereto, links connecting.

the rock shafts to an eccentric point on the cylinder whereby the pistons move faster pistons therein, a rotary shaft,.a fly-wheel mounted thereon, connections between the pistons and the periphery of the fly-wheel for transmitting rotary motion to the shaft, COIIDGCElGIS between the periphery of the fly-wheel and apoint eccentric to the flywheel, whereby the pistons move faster through portions of their cycle than they do through the, remainder of their cycle.

15.-A rotary internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, a plurality of rotary pistons therein, a rotary shaft, a fly-wheel 'mounted on the said shaft, eoiinections'beF Q tween 'the pistons and the periphery of the llagwasa,

and connections between the poiiits 'fi connection between the pistons and the fly-wheel and a point eccentric to the fly-wheel' whereby the pistons move faster through po ons of their cycle than they do througn the remainder of their cycle.

16. A rotary internal combustion engine \sing a cylinder, a plurality of rotary pis stherein, a rotary'shaft, a fiy-wheel mounted thereon, connections between the pistons and the periphery of the fly-wheel, a stub-shaft carriedby the cylinder eccentric to the fly-wheel, and connections between the said stub-shaft and the points where the pistons areeonnected to the fly-wheel, whereby the pistons move faster through portions of their cycle than they do through the remainder of their eye e..

17. A rotary internal combustion engine, comprising a cylinder, a plurality of rotary pistons therein, a rotary shaft, a fly-wheel eyed upon the shaft, rock shafts carried by the'outer periphery of the fly-wheel, links connecting one end of the roc shaft to the "piston,- links connecting the opposite end of the rock-shaft to the cylinder eccentric to the piston, whereby the pistons move faster through two'portions of their:c cle than they do throu h the remainder of their cycle, for

i ingand firing a charge between two 18. A rotary'internal combustion engine,

comprising a cylinder a plurality of rotary pistons, carried a rotary sha t, a fly-wheel. rigidly by the shaft, rock shafts pivotally mounted upon the outer periphery of the flv wheel', links connecting the inner ends of lar passage, outwardly extending arms car- I ried by the sleeves, a fly-wheel rigidly carried by the shaft, rock shafts carried by the outer periphery ofthe fly-wheel, links connecting the arms carried by the sleeves and the inner ends of the rock shafts, links connecting the outer ends of the rock-shafts and a pivot eccentrically carried by the cylinder, whereby the pistons move faster through two portions of their cycle thanthey ddifthrough the remainder of their cycle.

20. A rotary internal COmbUSLLUIL-rflHglIlB comprisin a cylinder having an fannular passage a jacent its outer periphery, a shaft extending through the cylinder, sleeves loosely mounted upon the shaft and upon each other and havingwtheir outer ends in stepped form, disks carried by the inner ends pf the sleeves and extending out to the annular passage, two pistons carried by the outer edge of each disk within the annular passage and oppositely arranged on the disk, a fly-wheel ri dly carried by the shaft, upwardly exten ing arms carried by the ends of the sleeves, rock-shafts mounted-in the outer periphery of the fly-wheel, a link connecting the inner ends of eachrock-shaft and its respective arm carried by the sleeve, links connected to the outer ends of the flywheel and having their inner 'ends connected vto a pin carried eccentrically by the cylinder, a bearing carried b the pin for the outer end of the shaft, w ereby the pistons move faster through two portions of their cycle than they do through the remainder of their cycle, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

v x IRA BOYD HUMBHREYS. I Witnesses:

MAY HAYs, Y V Roy S. Fuo'rHmonAM. 

